Panthers to visit English Valleys

The sixth-ranked Pekin football team hopes the ?little things? turn into a big win in Week 6.

The Panthers (5-0, 3-0) travel to English Valleys for a Class A District 6 battle Friday.

?We always throw a few wrinkles in there but will be looking at focusing on the little things,? said Pekin head coach Joe Donovan. ?It doesn?t matter who we?re playing, the little things are always important.?

For the Panthers, that means continuing to strive for improvement with their pass defense and becoming more fundamentally sound in all areas.

Pekin has been on a tear this season. The Panthers are averaging 437.4 yards per game in total offense, but are just as excellent defensively in the early going.

Pekin has held two teams scoreless and last week shut down North Mahaska running back Karson Stodghill, holding him to just 46 yards on 14 carries. North Mahaska?s quarterback, Beau Freeborn, fared even worse. Freeborn finished the game 3-for-16 passing for 32 yards and was picked off three times.

Offensively, the Panthers have been a force rushing the football. Quentin Garrels already has 947 yards and 17 touchdowns on limited carries, and Petie Clubb has added 213 yards on 29 rushing attempts.

?I?m guessing we?ll see something different out of English Valleys? defense in an attempt to shut down our run game,? said Donovan. ?A lot of guys will be trying to stop our run, and we have to keep adjusting.?

Quarterback Graham Wittrock has found success behind Pekin?s big hogmollies, as well. Wittrock has already rushed for five touchdowns, and he has eight touchdown passes and no interceptions so far this season.

English Valleys is 2-3 on the season and most recently beat Southeast Warren 28-19 last Friday.

Like Pekin, English Valleys is a run-first team that sprinkles in the pass. Running back Brennen Grimm has rushed for 588 yards on 5.2 yards per carry, while quarterback Austin Huber has completed just 12 passes for 140 yards.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at English Valleys in North English.